Musicals
As soon as sound was introduced to the movies, the movie musical was born. The musical was one of the most popular movie entertainments from the 1930s through to the 50s, before falling out of favour at the end of the 60s for audiences now being weened on Vietnam, race riots, political assassinations, flower power and psychedelia. The musical still continued onwards, albeit in a different form, with various efforts such as "Cabaret", "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", "Grease", "Hair", "All That Jazz" and "The Blues Brothers" appearing over the next decade. More recently, "Moulin Rouge" and particularly "Chicago" hark back to the glory days of the musical.
Right: Liza Minnelli does "Cabaret"
French Cancan (1954)
7.5/10
Director: Jean Renoir
Starring: Jean Gabin, Francoise Arnoul, Maria Felix
Nineteenth-century Paris comes vibrantly alive in Jean Renoir's exhilarating tale of the opening of the world-renowned Moulin Rouge. Jean Gabin plays... Read more
Lucky Me (1954)
6.1/10
Director: Jack Donohue
Starring: Doris Day, Robert Cummings, Phil Silvers, Eddie Foy Jr, Nancy Walker, Martha Hye...
Sticking to a tried-and-true formula, this Doris Day musical comedy has her and her theatre buddies facing the potential ends of their careers, as the... Read more
Brigadoon (1954)
6.9/10
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Starring: Gene Kelly, Van Johnson, Cyd Charisse
Gene Kelly and Van Johnson are Americans lost in the Scottish highlands when they discover the charming village of Brigadoon and the charms of Cyd Cha... Read more
The Glenn Miller Story (1954)
7.3/10
Director: Anthony Mann
Starring: James Stewart, June Allyson, Henry Morgan, Frances Langford, Louis Armstrong, Ge...
James Stewart and June Allyson star as the popular band leader and his wife in this Anthony Mann film bio loaded with swinging music and fine musician... Read more
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (1954)
7.4/10
Director: Stanley Donen
Starring: Howard Keel, Jane Powell, Jeff Richards, Marc Platt
When outdoorsman Howard Keel decides to get married, his 6 younger brothers also get the urge. The musical movie inspiration for the TV series contain... Read more
A Star Is Born (Garland) (1954)
7.8/10
Director: George Cukor
Starring: Judy Garland, James Mason, Charles Bickford
The restored version of this masterpiece. Directed by George Cukor this classic musical drama about the doomed marriage of an entertainer whose career... Read more
There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)
6.5/10
Director: Walter Lang
Starring: Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, Donald O'Connor, Marilyn Monroe, Johnnie Ray, Mitzi Ga...
Dan Dailey and Ethel Merman head a performing family that includes Marilyn Monroe, Donald O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor and Johnny Ray. They all like to sin... Read more
White Christmas (1954)
7.6/10
Director: Michael Curtiz
Starring: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney
Timeless holiday classic stars Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye as a pair of merry veterans who become famous song-and-dance men after World War II. Soon, t... Read more
Young At Heart (1954)
6.9/10
Director: Gordon Douglas
Starring: Doris Day, Frank Sinatra, Gig Young, Ethel Barrymore
A great musical/drama, based on the 1938 film 'Four Daughters', with Frank Sinatra as a musician who comes to a small town to work with composer Alex... Read more
The Beggar's Opera (1953)
6.2/10
Director: Peter Brook
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Stanley Holloway, Hugh Griffith, Athene Seyler, Dorothy Tutin
Based on the first-ever English musical, written by John Gay, this authentic, cynical satire on 18th century London life boasts glorious sets and outr... Read more